Reds manager Dusty Baker rejoined the Reds for Monday's game against Cardinals. Baker suffered a ministroke on Sept. 21 and hasn't been on the Reds' bench since Sept. 18.

Reds catcher Ryan Hanigan talks with Dusty Baker before Monday's game in St. Louis. (US Presswire)

Reds manager Dusty Baker rejoined the team for Monday's game in St. Louis, as planned and for the first time since suffering a mini-stroke in Chicago, Baker addressed the media.

According to John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer, Baker teared up when he talked about how lucky he was to suffer his mini-stroke in a Chicago hospital. Baker was admitted to the hospital on Sept. 18 with an irregular heartbeat. He was scheduled to be released on Sept. 21, but a nurse noticed Baker couldn't say his name.

“I always had a pretty good perspective on things,” Baker said, according to the Enquirer. “Now, this makes me feel more appreciative of things, my family. I feel truly blessed to be in the hospital when I had a mini-stroke. You can’t get any more blessed than that. They way I look it, it’s our year. We’ve got a great support staff here. My guys did a great job while I was out.

“I was thinking the other day, everybody’s had a chance this year. . . everybody’s had a chance to pick each other [up]. That’s what kind of team we have. I feel truly blessed."